Travel

Language

Typical Concerns:

What is the national language?

What do I need to know in order to communicate?

Solutions:

English

Ghana is a former British colony; therefore English is Ghana's nationalized language and is widely spoken. For English speakers, navigating the country will not be problematic. However, English is generally not the primary language for most Ghanaians which results in a wide variety of accents.

National Languages

In addition to English, the government sponsors nine other languages including Akan, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, and Nzema. Apart from these 10 languages there are about 70 more spoken within the country. Akan is the most widely spoken language in Ghana, particular it’s Twi and Fante dialects. Twi and Fante are often considered their own languages. Being familiar with some Twi or Fante can be beneficial. There are several excellent resources for learning Ghanaian languages including online courses, audio CDs and books.

Hand Gestures

Greeting acquaintances with a handshake is an appropriate introduction. As is true in many cultures, using the left hand for greetings, pointing or gesturing may be considered impolite. It is also common to use hand gesturing to flag down a taxi or tro-tro.